Intrathecal baclofen therapy for spasticity: A compliance-based study to indicate effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy with programmable pumps is established for refractory spasticity.
• Clinical scale scores may not fully capture functional benefits of ITB therapy.
• Patient and caregiver perspectives are crucial for evaluating treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of ITB therapy.
• To use patient compliance at 2-year follow-up as an indicator of treatment success.
• To evaluate patient-reported outcomes for ITB therapy.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 31 patients undergoing ITB therapy was studied.
• Treatment and follow-up costs were covered by national health services.
• Compliance with follow-up visits at 2 years post-implantation served as the primary efficacy measure.

Main Results:

• Twenty-seven patients (mean age 28.8 years) were analyzed.
• Twenty patients (74.1%) remained compliant with the ITB treatment program at 2 years.
• Compliant patients reported at least moderate symptom improvement, justifying continued treatment.

Conclusions:

• Patient compliance at 2 years post-implantation suggests ITB therapy is effective.
• Nearly three-quarters of patients continued ITB therapy, indicating sustained efficacy.
• ITB therapy is a viable long-term option for managing refractory spasticity.